Photo: Jamie Huenefeld

On Monday, April 20, Dogs in a Pile took their affinity for the Grateful Dead songbook to Ardmore Music Hall, located in the suburbs outside Philadelphia. The concert was billed as a tribute and leaned heavily into the contents of the original improvisational thrill-seeker’s best and most beloved work. “Viola Lee Blues” served as a concert standout, marking a debut cover that emerged from the second-set sister songs and defacto openers “Help on the Way” > “Slipknot!” The concert arrived in tandem with the new app Play Dead.

Before unveiling the debut, Dogs in a Pile pulled out “Feels Like a Stranger,” a song that signals: “it’s gonna be a long, long, crazy, crazy night.” They picked up “Jack Straw” next, underscoring “we can share the women, we can share the wine,” ahead of a bluesy “Mr. Charlie.” Next, they referenced Aoxomoxoa on “Dupree’s Diamond Blues,” before seemingly seasonal references on “Bird Song,” “China Cat,” “Cassidy,” and “Let it Grow.” 

The latter half of the performance started with “Help on the Way” > “Slipknot!” Rather than tie on “Franklin’s Tower” to complete the three-piece Blues for Allah suite, they opted for delivering “Viola Lee Blues” for the first time. The night’s debut merged into “New Speedway Boogie,” without pause. On the other side of the Workingman’s Dead feature, Dogs provided a sequence, “The Other Ones” > “Drums” > “The Other One.” 

Dogs’ second set instrumental interlude picked up on the essence of Dead’s original explorative spirit, which continued as they entered the waters that led to “Ship of Fools.” For their next number, they dusted off the rarity “Blow Away” before landing on the final piece of the night’s latter frame, “The Music Never Stopped.” For the evening’s encore, Dogs in a Pile went with a commonly placed “Brokedown Palace” finisher. 

For a full list of upcoming appearances, visit dogsinapileofficial.com/tour. 

Dogs in a Pile 

Ardmore Music Hall – Ardmore, Pa. 

April 20, 2026

Set I: Feel Like A Stranger[1], Jack Straw[1], Mr. Charlie[1], Dupree’s Diamond Blues[1], Bird Song[2], China Cat Sunflower[1]-> Cassidy[3], Let it Grow[1]

Set 2: Help on the Way / Slipknot![1] > Viola Lee Blues[4]-> New Speedway Boogie[1], Cumberland Blues[1], The Other One[1]-> Drums-> The Other One[1], Ship Of Fools[1], Blow Away[1], The Music Never Stopped[1]

Enc.: Brokedown Palace[1]

Footnotes: 

[1] Grateful Dead

[2] Jerry Garcia

[3] Bob Weir

[4] FTP, Noah Lewis